NHL: Tampa Bay welcomes back Gratton for the third time

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning reacquired forward Chris Gratton from the Florida Panthers on Wednesday in exchange for a second-round pick in either the 2007 or 2008 draft.
Gratton was the Lightning's first-round choice, third overall, in the 1993 entry draft. He played four seasons in his first stint in Tampa from 1993-97, then parts of two seasons in his second stint from 1998-2000, accumulating 88 goals and 236 points in 404 games. The 6-4, 220-pounder recorded career highs in goals (30), points (62), and penalty minutes (207) in 1996-97.
"We have been pursuing Chris for some time now," said Lightning executive vice president and general manager Jay Feaster. "He has great size and strength, he is very good on face-offs, he has excellent grit and is willing to take care of both himself and defend his teammates. They say in life that 'the third time is the charm,' and we truly believe that his third time in a Lightning uniform is going to be a great one for Chris and our team."
The 31-year-old native of Brantford, Ontario has bounced around the NHL during his 13-year career. He signed as a free agent with Philadelphia in the summer of 1997, then was sent back to Tampa in a December, 1998 trade. Following that tenure, he was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres late in the 1999-2000 season, spending parts of four seasons there until Phoenix acquired him in a deal for Daniel Briere in 2003.
He spent parts of two seasons with the Coyotes before moving onto Colorado at the tail end of the 2003-2004 campaign. Gratton signed with Florida in 2005, scoring 30 goals and 74 points in 157 games over the last two seasons.
Gratton has played in 1,008 games with six teams, scoring 204 goals, collecting 340 assists and amassing 1,549 penalty minutes.